Finding an apartment in New York City can feel like winning the lottery. For some renters in Queens and Brooklyn, prosecutors say the winning ticket was a fake. A Long Island man is accused of posing as a real estate agent and renting out apartments he did not own, pocketing more than $61,000, according to the New York Post.
Some victims were left with worthless keys and bogus leases. In one case, a renter showed up ready to move in and found another family already living there.
“Another Family Had Already Beaten Them To It”
Rajat Verma, 35, of Franklin Square, allegedly rented out apartments he did not own, sometimes promising the same property to more than one tenant, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors say the scheme targeted at least 15 victims across Queens and Brooklyn, taking a combined $61,625 in security deposits and other rental payments…